Events

November

Constanta, Romania

This one-day workshop will be the first event organized within the TEAM4SEAS project and will present the Web-GIS platform in a step-by-step approach. The workshop is open to professionals and students working in the field of marine spatial planning, coastal zone management and land-sea interactions.

More information is forthcoming. Date in November 2018 is to be confirmed.

BS STEMA Final Conference

01.11.2018 - 30.11.2018

Bucharest, Romania

The conference will engage a wide range of interested stakeholders from public administrations, research and academia and the business community.

The results undertaken within the project ”Changes in storminess and coastal erosion induced by climate variability along the Black Sea coasts. Management and adaptation (BS STEMA)”(financed by the European Union and the research financial agencies from Romania, Russia and Turkey under the ERA.Net RUS Plus initiative) will be presented. More information about specific local contexts will be provided. The conference is also expected to be a platform for relevant land-sea interaction actors, to discuss and consider possible collaborations.

More information is forthcoming. Date in November 2018 is to be confirmed, hosted by University of Bucharest.

EOOS Conference

21.11.2018 - 23.11.2018

Brussels, Belgium

The EOOS Conference will bring together and connect diverse ocean observing stakeholder communities, from science, public authorities, industry and wider society, to identify concrete joint actions towards an inclusive, better coordinated & sustained European ocean observing capacity. The Conference will build on the progress made at the EOOS Forum in March 2018 to launch an EOOS strategy and implementation plan, together with a Call to action.

Online

This is the second webinar in a series presenting the 2018 study on MSP for Blue Growth. More information on the study and webinar series can be found here.

Webinar: 21 November 2018 at 16:00 CET

The sector fiches deal mainly with the MSP dimension in the expected evolution of the analysed sectors, putting the focus on investigating current and future potential spatial demands of the sectors. At the same time, the fiches look at the interaction that exists among sectors, and offer a set of concrete recommendations to inform MSP processes. Finally, the fiches aim at being a solid first information source listing the most relevant actors, initiatives, and available literature in the sector in question.

The presentation will cover the following topics:
• What are the present spatial needs of each sector?
• Which anticipated future developments of each sector are relevant to MSP?
• What recommendations can be made to support the sectors in MSP processes?

Interactive stakeholder workshop on shipping in the North Sea

21.11.2018 - 22.11.2018

Malmo, Sweden

The NorthSEE project has delivered some interesting findings on the different approaches of countries in dealing with shipping lanes, shipping measures, and safety zones between offshore wind farms and shipping measures. The findings provide a solid ground for discussion on the role of Maritime Spatial Planning in facilitating a sustainable growth of the shipping sector. Therefore, the NorthSEE project is organising an interactive workshop with shipping related stakeholders in the North Sea. Using the MSP Challenge software, participants will discuss current and upcoming measures, future industry trends with their spatial implications and the role of MSP.

Blue Growth Mid-Term Conference

Barcelona, Spain

InnoBlueGrowth organizes the Blue Growth mid-term conference to gather and to encourage the Mediterranean business community in support of the “Blue Economy: The Blue Way of Life”

Barcelona - The InnoBlueGrowth project, driving the Blue Growth Community, organizes its transnational Mid-Term Conference “Blue Economy: The Blue Way of Life”, which will gather experts and key players from the Mediterranean region. The event will take place on November 22nd-23rd 2018, in Barcelona, Spain.

The Conference’s purpose is to reflect on the sustainable dimension of Blue Growth, whether it will be in terms of development, mitigation of issues, planning, or governance. The sessions aim to put into perspective the results of all Blue Growth thematic projects for a general peer reviewing from all participants and discuss about the Blue Economy. In addition, it will be the occasion to present Blue Growth projects including updates about their main activities, goals and services, providing information on development and opportunities to all Blue Growth Community.

Blue Growth Community Mid-Term Conference “Blue Economy: The Blue Way of Life”

22.11.2018 - 23.11.2018

Barcelona, Spain

The Conference’s purpose is to reflect on the sustainable dimension of Blue Growth, whether it will be in terms of development, mitigation of issues, planning, or governance. The sessions aim to put into perspective the results of all Blue Growth thematic projects for a general peer reviewing from all participants and discuss about the Blue Economy. In addition, it will be the occasion to present Blue Growth projects including updates about their main activities, goals and services, providing information on development and opportunities to all Blue Growth Community.

In this sense, InnoBlueGrowth coordinates the Conference’s Agenda in order to discuss topics such as: Public Engagement and Awareness, Market Development, Sustainability, and Clusters in the blue growth context, involving the modular and integrated projects: iBlue, Maestrale, Pelagos, Proteus, 4Helix+ and Mistral.

Sustainable Blue Economy Conference

26.11.2018 - 28.11.2018

Nairobi, Kenya

Kenya and its co-hosts Canada and Japan are inviting the world to Nairobi for the first global conference on the sustainable blue economy.The conference will capture concrete commitments and practical actions that can be taken today to help the world transition to the blue economy. The Sustainable Blue Economy Conference is the first global conference on the sustainable blue economy. Over 4,000 participants from around the world are coming together to learn how to build a blue economy that:

Harnesses the potential of our oceans, seas, lakes and rivers to improve the lives of all, particularly people in developing states, women, youth and Indigenous peoples

Leverages the latest innovations, scientific advances and best practices to build prosperity while conserving our waters for future generations

Baltic Earth Workshop on "Multiple drivers for Earth system changes in the Baltic Sea region"

26.11.2018 - 27.11.2018

Tallinn, Estonia

The workshop is organised in collaboration with BONUS, HELCOM and ICES and it takes place 26-27 November 2018 at Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.

The workshop intends to bring together experts in the different drivers of environmental changes to discuss achievements and prospects in research on the inter-dependencies between the different natural and man-made drivers, with the aim to assess the state of knowledge and develop strategies to alleviate detrimental effects on the environment.

International renowned speakers have been invited for an interesting programme. A tentative goal is to elaborate particular topics for further research, and start the process of preparing a White Paper.

Convention on Biodiversity side event of PANACeA

27.11.2018

Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

The EU co-funded Interreg Med Biodiversity Protection community (PANACeA project), led by the European Topic Centre joins forces with the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean to present a side event back-to-back the CBD COP 14 (Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity) in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, 27th November 2018. The event “Ecosystem-based approaches (EBM) to managing transboundary and cumulative impacts in the Mediterranean with a special focus on marine plastic litter and climate change” will present methods and processes that are scientifically and politically relevant to better implement EBM in the Mediterranean.

Ecosystem based management (EBM) is an important and powerful approach which directly links ecosystem state to pressures, and requires transboundary assessment, monitoring and management. The application of EBM to different scenarios and conditions has proven successful in dealing with transboundary impacts worldwide. EBM case studies that maintain the integrity of ecoregions in the Mediterranean will be highlighted during the event, as they can also resonate globally. The event will enable further exchanges among relevant Mediterranean stakeholders – managers, policymakers, socioeconomic actors, civil society and the scientific community, and highlight processes to ensure their active engagement and empowerment throughout the EBM process, allowing for a balance between ecological, economic, and social values.

Coastal Partnerships Network Annual Forum

27.11.2018 - 28.11.2018

Cardiff, UK

The Coastal Partnerships Network Annual Forum is the national Continuing Professional Development event for Coastal Partnership Officers, members of their Steering Groups or Boards, partner representatives and anyone who works, or is interested in working, in partnership on the coast. It provides up to date information on the latest legislation and key issues affecting or affected by coastal management and helps to showcase different aspects of the work of coastal partnerships to inspire others. It also serves as the key networking event for CPN members and partner organisations, enabling them to build links and benefit from shared experience on a national scale.

The event will be spread over two days, starting with a field visit to the Severn Estuary (location tbc) on the first day, and followed by an afternoon of speakers and a workshop session revolving around the theme of Valuing Social and Natural Capital. The conference evening meal will be in the centre of Cardiff and included in the conference fee. The second day is given over to coastal fora updates and a Deeper Stakeholder Engagement in Marine Planning workshop. See below for a full draft programme.

December

12th International Conference on Oceanography & Marine Biology

Rome, Italy

Initiative for the Sustainable Development of the Blue Economy in the western Mediterranean: Stakeholder Conference

03.12.2018

Algiers, Algeria

The West Med Initiative, which was launched in 2017, will hold an important milestone next 3 December 2018 in the city of Algiers, where around 200 stakeholders from the Member States and the partner countries of the sub-sea-basin will gather together to discuss concrete ideas and proposals “Towards concrete blue actions in the Western Mediterranean”. Within its third Goal of the Initiative, which refers to a Better Governance of the Sea, Spatial Planning and the improvement of land-sea interactions have a prominent role within Priority 3.1.

2nd workshop of the "International Forum for Maritime Spatial Planning"

04.12.2018 - 07.12.2018

La Réunion island, French outermost region, European Union

The 2nd edition of the International MSP Forum will take place from 4 to 7 December on the island of La Réunion. It is time again for you to apply and join us for a dynamic and interactive workshop amongst planners from all over the world.

Just as the 1st edition, the event will be jointly organised by the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission (DG MARE) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO), from 4th to 7th of December 2018. This will be the occasion to continue working on international guidelines on cross-border MSP, as set out in the "Joint Roadmap to accelerate Maritime/Marine Spatial Planning processes worldwide" adopted during the 2ndInternational Conference on Maritime Spatial Planning, in March 2017 in Paris.

Due to the very interactive format and the overarching aim to discuss and exchange good practices, places are limited to 100 participants. Participants will be selected following gender and geographical balance to ensure fair access to the event. Priority is given to Maritime Spatial planners and those directly involved in MSP.

Mid-term workshop and public hearing of the Biodiversity protection community

04.12.2018

Brussels, Belgium

The Mid-term workshop and public hearing of the Mediterranean Biodiversity Protection Community featured by the PANACeA project will take place in Brussels, 4th and 5th December 2018. The preparatory workshop "Ecosystem based approach: benefits for people and nature" will gather 11 projects on biodiversity protection from the Interreg Med programme to present and support the transferability of their results to a wider audience including external environmental actors, policy-makers and scientists.

The second day, together with the SEArica Intergroup, the public hearing "Mediterranean ecosystems in danger: Enhancing EU policy response" will discuss solutions to conserve biodiversity and increase the resilience of natural resources in the Mediterranean Sea. This event will encourage a stronger commitment of all stakeholders for a better understanding and application of an ecosystem-based management in the development and implementation of policies at all levels.

Enhancing EU policy with ecosystem-based approaches

04.12.2018 - 05.12.2018

Brussels, Belgium

The Mid-term workshop and public hearing of the Mediterranean Biodiversity Protection Community featured by the PANACeA project will take place in Brussels, 4th and 5th December 2018. The collaborative workshop "Ecosystem based approaches: benefits for people and nature" will gather 11 projects on biodiversity protection and PANACeA from the Interreg Med programme together with EU institutions to present and support the transferability of their results to a wider audience including external environmental actors, policy makers and scientists.

The second day, together with the SEArica Intergroup, a public hearing at the EU Parliament on "Mediterranean ecosystems in danger: Enhancing EU policy response" will discuss solutions to preserve ecosystems and their biodiversity and increase the resilience of natural resources in the Mediterranean Sea. This event will encourage a stronger commitment of all stakeholders for a better understanding and application of an ecosystem-based management in the development and implementation of policies at all levels.

MSP for Blue Growth Webinar - Developing Indicators for MSP: an Introduction to the Handbook

05.12.2018

Online

This is the third and final webinar in a series presenting the 2018 study on MSP for Blue Growth. More information on the study and webinar series can be found here.

Webinar: 5 December 2018 at 16:00 CET

The Indicators Handbook presents a step-by-step approach to developing MSP indicators. In particular, the Handbook aims to provide the maritime spatial planning community with suggestions on the use of spatial indicators that could support the consideration of Blue Growth in MSP processes. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions for MSP and related indicator development, which is why the Handbook offers a flexible approach with examples of possible indicators that need to be customised to the local contexts.

The presentation will cover the following topics:
• How to define SMART objectives?
• Making the links between objectives and indicators
• Identification of sources of information
• How to define baselines?
• How to define target values, while considering external factors and assumptions

European Blue Bioeconomy Forum

07.12.2018

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

This forum is organised for industries, public agencies, financial organisations, researchers and civil society, working on or interested in the Blue Bioeconomy of the EU – aquatic and marine environments. During the event we will look at the current status of the emerging Blue Bioeconomy in Europe, identify strategic developments, market opportunities, financing possibilities and research priorities. We will discuss challenges for the sustainable production of food, non-food and feed in the Blue Bioeconomy sector. The exchange of ideas is expected to result in formulation of a roadmap for the development of the Blue Bioeconomy in the EU.

FishForum 2018

Rome, Italy (Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)

The Fish Forum on Fisheries Science in the Mediterranean and the Black sea is organised by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization.

The Fish Forum will have an interdisciplinary focus, addressing the three interrelated themes listed below. Thematic sessions will highlight leading research in these areas based, among others, on contributions received through a call for abstracts. Keynote speakers will spotlight cross-cutting topics and thematic panels and transversal panels will offer opportunities for dynamic discussion on prominent issues. Side events are foreseen to complement the main thematic discussions and draw attention to innovative work, while poster sessions and stands will provide further opportunities to showcase relevant research.

To register as a participant and/or to submit an abstract for consideration, please visit www.fao.org/gfcm/FishForum2018and complete the registration form with all relevant details, includingthe proposed abstract. Registration and the call for abstracts will open frommid-November 2017.

Who will attend?

The Fish Forum will be an opportunity to benefit from a wider range of expertise than typically reaches other regional conferences and will aim at removing barriers to sharing knowledge and information. It will provide an overview of the latest trends and achievements in ocean sciences and fishery technology and will explore future needs. The target audience is intended to be scientists, researchers, engineers, academics, practitioners, managers and decision makers that have fisheries and marine-related responsibilities. A call for abstracts will ensure that select renowned experts have the opportunity to disseminate their latest research findings and present them to the Fish Forum. The participation of early career scientists will also actively be promoted.

Sponsors

The Forum is organised with the financial support of the European Union

Technical partners

Fish Forum 2018

10.12.2018 - 14.12.2018

Rome, Italy

Bringing together the wider community of scientists and experts working on fisheries and the marine environment in the Mediterranean and Black Sea in order to build a lasting network, discuss advancements in research, integrate scientific knowledge in support of decision-making and identify research priorities for the coming decade.

Riga, Latvia

The purpose of the joint workshop is to consider existing knowledge regarding essential fish habitats at the Baltic Sea regional scale, and how remaining gaps could be filled. The workshop will discuss and validate existing spatial data on essential fish habitats based on proposals collated within the Pan Baltic Scope project. It is organised back-to-back with a Pan Baltic Scope Green infrastructure workshop, in cooperation with HELCOM State and Conservation and HELCOM Fish Working Groups (Essential Fish Habitats).

The workshop is open to nominated experts from Contracting Parties, partners of the Pan Baltic Scope project, and invited experts on Baltic Sea essential fish habitats. Instructions for workshop registration will be sent out separately to the nominated attendees.

SIMWESTMED / SUPREME closing conference

12.12.2018 - 13.12.2018

Venice, Italy

There will be a joint closing conference of the projects related to the implementation of EU MSP Directive in the Eastern and in the Western Mediterranean regions, SIMWESTMED and SUPREME, co-funded by DG MARE. More information is forthcoming.

January

Jan15

Irish Sea Maritime Forum Biennal Conference

15.01.2019

Cardiff, UK

The first Irish Sea Maritime Forum Biennial Conference will be held in Wales at the National Assembly for Wales estate in Cardiff. The event aims to bring together stakeholders from across the Irish Sea to learn about and discuss issues of current and shared interest.

The morning session provides an update from across the Irish Sea on marine planning (including the forthcoming Welsh National Marine Plan) and the development of the network of Marine Protected Areas. Over lunch delegates will be able to view an exhibition of Irish Sea related projects and meet some of the partners that have been involved with these. The afternoon session spotlights climate change and associated activity in the Irish Sea region including the response of coastal authorities in Wales associated with their duties under the 2015 Wellbeing of Future Generations Act. The day concludes with a presentation on the new Irish Sea Centre that is being established in the Isle of Man and plans for the ISMF conference that will be held in the Isle of Man in 2020. The conference is free of charge.

January

Jan17

JPI Oceans seminar | Increasing the impact of European investments in marine and maritime research - What’s on the Horizon?

17.01.2019

Brussels, Belgium

The seminar, taking place in Brussels on 17 January from 12.00 to 17.00, aims to showcase ongoing JPI Oceans actions and projects and their policy impact and galvanize synergies and collaboration. Participants will include representatives of the European Commission, European Parliament, National Ministries and research funding organisations and other international (scientific) organisations. It will provide an excellent opportunity for stakeholders from research and industry to network and discuss with policy makers from across Europe and discuss the outcomes, opportunities and future outlooks of their activities.

The seminar is free of charge. You are welcome to register here. The event will take place at the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts in Rue Ducale - Hertogsstraat 1, 1000 Brussels. The programme of the the seminar will be published in due time.

The Role of Regions in fostering Blue Growth

22.01.2019

Berlin, Germany

Regions have been at the forefront of Blue Growth across the Baltic Sea Region. Whether it is for shipping, blue bio-technology, coastal tourism or aquaculture, regions have developed innovative approaches to enhance Blue Growth. This conference will build upon the results of several transnational projects that all aim to foster blue growth – from regions and for regions in the BSR. This conference is the forum for the Blue Growth cooperation of tomorrow.

Blue Invest in the Mediterranean 2019

24.01.2019

St. Julians, Malta

Following the successful Blue Invest event of May 2018 in Brussels, and within the context of their work on blue investment, the European Commission (DG MARE) is hosting the “Blue Invest in the Mediterranean 2019” event. It will take place on 24 January 2019 in Malta and will gather approximately 300 participants interested in the blue economy of the Mediterranean Sea basin. Following a similar approach to that of the May 2018 Blue Invest event, promoting investment in an innovative blue economy, the aim is to mobilise private sector investment capital and lending. The blue economy has significant potential for sustainable growth and job creation, particularly around the Mediterranean Sea basin. Investment capital, both public and private, can play a significant role in developing this economic potential. Through this event, the Commission wants to increase the engagement of the financial community with the blue economy, and to stimulate investment interest in marine and maritime sectors. In addition, the event will indirectly support the implementation of cooperation initiatives amongst Mediterranean countries in the context of the UfM Blue Economy Forum, the WestMED Initiative, and the EUSAIR.

Call for expression of interest to pitch application deadine: 21 November 2018

EuroMarine General Assembly

30.01.2019 - 31.01.2019

Cadiz, Spain

In 2019, the EuroMarine General Assembly (GA) meeting will take place in Cádiz, Spain, on 30 January (all day) and 31 January 2019 (morning). It will be hosted and co-organised by the University of Cádiz (UCA).

It will be preceded on 28 and 29 Jan. by EuroMarine working group meetings and/or other side events yet to be confirmed. It will be followed by a (closed) EuroMarine Steering Committee meeting, on Thu. 31 Jan. PM.

Two salient items on the agenda:

a specific EuroMarine working group is preparing an analysis of all scientific activities funded by EuroMarine in its first four years of existence and will report on it during the GA meeting;

the GA will discuss and make decisions regarding the operational launch of the EuroMarine not-for-profit Legal Entity (which will serve as a support structure for the EuroMarine Consortium); this legal entity could indeed be recently created as an association under French law; its creation was announced in the French Official Journal of 1 Sept. 2018; it should be ready during Fall 2018 to manage EuroMarine 2019 budget and seek additional funding sources.

February

Feb13

Save the Date: Connecting Seas NorthSEE - Baltic LINes MSP Conference

13.02.2019 - 14.02.2019

Hamburg, Germany

The MSP conference “Connecting Seas” from two INTERREG sister projects “NorthSEE” and “Baltic LINes” will take place on the 13th – 14th February 2019 in Hamburg, Germany. The conference programme will cover topics related on the North Sea and Baltic Sea Region’s experience of dealing with Maritime Spatial Planning, with a focus on shipping, energy and environment. The conference will bring together more than 200 participants from the MSP community representing different ministries and authorities, stakeholders from the shipping, energy and environment sector, transnational organisations and initiatives, NGOs as well as research institutes from both regions. This will be a unique opportunity to meet representatives, experts and stakeholders from two sea basins, exchange knowledge and discover the future trends in MSP.

Get involved to understand the MSP processes in the North Sea and Baltic Sea regions! Find out more and register soon on www.connectingseas.eu

April

Georgia, US

The OceanVisions2019 - Climate Summit "Successes in resilience, adaptation, mitigation, and sustainability" is co-organized by researchers at Georgia Tech, Stanford University, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Smithsonian Institution in coordination with the IOC-UNESCO, the Ocean Conservancy and Georgia Aquarium. The goal is to highlight ocean-based science and engineering successes in the areas of resilience, adaptation, mitigation and sustainability and promote scalable solutions across human, climate and ecological dimensions.

European Geosciences Union General Assembly

07.04.2019 - 12.04.2019

Vienna, Austria

The EGU General Assembly will bring together geoscientists from all over the world to one meeting covering all disciplines of the Earth, planetary, and space sciences. The deadline for abstract submission is 10 January 2019, 13:00 CET or, for those applying for EGU Roland Schlich travel support, 1 December 2018, 13:00 CET.

May

May16

European Maritime Day

16.05.2019 - 17.05.2019

Lisbon, Portugal

The focus of the European Maritime Day 2019 in Lisbon, Portugal, will be on blue entrepreneurship, innovation and investment to transform traditional maritime sectors and boost emerging technologies and value chains. A specific focus will be put on research and innovation for a plastic-free ocean. The Call for Stakeholder workshops has also been launched and you can apply for the organisation of a workshop by submitting your online application before 30/11/2018.

The EMD is the annual EU meeting point on maritime affairs and blue growth. It targets maritime professionals, entrepreneurs and ocean leaders from Academia, NGOs, businesses, governments and public institutions. Stakeholders will find the EMD a great opportunity to touch base with strategic partners, to make new contacts, get visibility for projects, activities and achievements, gain new insights into the evolving EU policy and funding landscape and provide input into European Maritime Policy formulation. Through a dedicated matchmaking application, participants will be able to ask for matchmaking slots with other participants and post their profiles online.

EMD 2019 will also be celebrated across Europe, through ‘EMD in my Country’ events and activities, big and small, that in 2019 will focus, in particular, on mobilising citizens and young people around the theme of responsible and sustainable use of the oceans. The EMD portal lets you find which events are happening around Europe and in your neighborhood.

June

Jun11

EurOCEAN conference

11.06.2019 - 12.06.2019

Paris, France

The next (2019) edition of the EurOCEAN conference will take place on 11-12 June 2019, in Paris (France), hosted by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (7 place Fontenoy - 75007 Paris, France) and managed by the European Marine Board.

To keep track of the most recent information on this event visit the conference series' website (www.euroceanconferences.eu) or the Marine Board website (www.marineboard.eu), or follow the Marine Board on Twitter (@EMarineBoard).

10th Annual Forum of EUSBSR

12.06.2019 - 13.06.2019

Gdansk, Poland

It is time to SAVE THE DATE of the 10th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR)! The jubilee year's Annual Forum will take place in Gdansk, Poland on 12-13 June 2019 - put the dates on your calendar & stay tuned for more updates.

Future Oceans2 - 2nd IMBeR Ocean Science Conference

17.06.2019 - 21.06.2019

Brest, France

Future Oceans2 is the second IMBeR Open Science Conference and will provide an opportunity to join world leading researchers to present advances in science from all disciplines that contribute towards –

ocean sustainability for the benefit of society: understanding, challenges, and solutions

In addition to delivering an update of the pertinent science, Future Oceans2 will foster productive inter-and trans-disciplinary discussions and provide a forum to strategically map future research directions. Within this context, Future Oceans2 is based around three interlinked themes –

Theme 1. Understanding and quantifying the state and variability of marine ecosystems;

Future Oceans2 will be an exciting mix of talks (keynote, research, and contributed -up to 10 concurrent sessions each day), posters, workshops, focus groups, world cafés, and other innovative formats to engage delegates. The conference will be preceded by two days of workshops.

People & the Sea X: learning from the past, imagining the future

25.06.2019 - 28.06.2019

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

MARE People and the Sea Conference X: Call for Papers and Panels:

The Centre for Maritime Research (MARE) is preparing its 10th international People and the Sea Conference that will take place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on June 25-28, 2019. This jubilee conference, which is preceded by a policy day (June 24, 2019) and flanked by other events, takes time as its theme. In full awareness of the major ongoing changes in the knowledge industry and how people interact with coasts and seas, we first delve into the past: what have we learned, and to what extent are we making the most of these learning opportunities? From whom should we be learning, and how do we engage in the learning process? To what extent are the insights of earlier generations of social scientists studying maritime affairs and coastal life still relevant to us? We then look forward and ask ourselves what social scientists can contribute to understanding and dealing with coastal and maritime challenges of the future. Topics range from the increasing intensity of storms and their implications for navigators and coastal inhabitants, to plastic pollution and conservation measures, the travails of travelers and the expansion of coastal cities, the fate of long-time inhabitants such as fishers and indigenous people, trends of coastal and ocean grabbing, the regulatory pursuits of planners, officials and scientists, and the ethics of technology. What perspectives and skills do we have to offer to science and the world; what are our strengths and where do our limitations lie?

Under the broad theme LEARNING FROM THE PAST, IMAGINING THE FUTURE, we investigate a myriad of matters in the context of six streams, each of which highlights a particular aspect of coastal and oceanic affairs.

Stream topics

1: Making a living from coasts and oceans:

From time immemorial, people around the globe have lived beside and upon the coasts and ocean, subsisting and earning their livelihoods. What are the ways in which they subsist and live? How do such livelihoods impact their culture, social organization, technology and innovations, management and governance structures, way of life, and worldviews? This stream will reflect upon how people in the past, now and in future live and interact with oceans and coasts. This stream is concerned with fishers, navigators, oil platform workers, tourism operators, wind farm mechanics and the whole range of other professions that engage with coasts and seas and with the communities that they belong to.

2: Framing, knowing and dreaming coasts and oceans:

How do we know the ocean and how has this changed over time? What are the knowledge-producing entities, routines and practices through which people study, reflect on and make sense of the ocean? What are the different types of knowledge that guide human interaction with the marine environment? How are they produced and communicated and why are some more influential than others in guiding people’s behaviour? This stream will reflect on how we frame, dream and know oceans and coasts. It thus focuses on marine epistemologies ranging from scientific to everyday forms of knowledge production.

3: Governing, steering and managing coasts and oceans:

The world-wide domestication of coasts and oceans has led to a flurry of managerial activity at various scale levels and in multiple venues. Politicians, planners, legislators, environmentalists, business (wo-)men and scientists consider options to initiate blue growth, save fisheries, reduce pollution and protect the environment, and create a proper and legitimate regulatory environment. ‘Stakeholders’ sit on the other side of the table, participating, protesting, negotiating and undergoing. This stream is about ocean and coastal governance in all its manifestations and human faces, paying special attention to how it has changed and might change yet again.

4: Navigating, touring and experiencing coasts and oceans:

Oceans and coasts play important roles for the transportation of goods and people and provide attractive landscapes and experiences for tourists and recreationists alike. How do we navigate the ocean, and how do present trends differ from the past? What can we expect in future? This stream will reflect on how we use oceans and coasts for transport purposes and tourism experiences, and how these activities have an impact on environments, economies and societies. It thus focuses on a range of maritime mobilities and assesses the sustainability challenges and opportunities of their development at different scale levels and from other angles.

5: Appropriating, contesting and criminalizing coasts and oceans:

Oceans and coasts are subject to ever-rising conflicts over the distribution of space and resources. What is the nature of the ensuing contestations? How are the games played, who are the winners and losers? Oil spills, pollution, ocean and coastal grabbing and man-made disasters suggest disparities between those causing harm and those vulnerable to the consequences. In addition, oceans are a welcome host for illicit activities: smuggling and trafficking of goods and people, brazen acts of piracy, and illegal resource extractions. Securitization is a common response. This stream reflects the rough and dirty side of life along coasts and oceans and related trends of grand and petty politics.

6: Innovating, technologizing and tracking uses of coasts and oceans:

This stream focuses on the changing role of innovations and technology in the transformation of oceans and coastal areas, highlighting the role of business. Discourses of blue economy and blue growth are facilitated by development in fields such as robotics, monitoring and surveillance systems, energy systems and communication technology. We are interested in studies that address how material innovations and technological progress shift the balance between humans and their marine and coastal environments, and the implications this has for people in different stations of life. Contributions that re-examine the position of the marine social sciences in the paradigm of blue growth are also very welcome.

Conference contributions

Participants may propose panels, papers, but also posters and other visual materials, such as documentary films. Besides the more traditional conference formats we encourage proposals with innovative formats that stimulate interaction such as roundtables, workshops, brainstorming sessions and debates. As for paper-based panels, we encourage formats that invite deeper discussion, for example by including discussants or by peer reviewing each other’s papers. The conference organizers may prioritize proposals that take such matters into account.

Deadline for panel, paper proposals and other conference formats: January 31st, 2019.